Musical instrument



June 17, 1924.

c. REIFFEL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed May 4, 1922 Patented June 17, 1924.

UNITED STATES CARL REIFFEL, Olf CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

Application .filed May 41922.

T all wiz/0m t may concern.'

Be it known that I, CARL REIFFEL, a citizen oi the United States of America, and a resident of Chicago, county ot Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented a. new and useful Improvement in Musical Instruments, ot which the following is a specitication This invention relates to musical instruments of the horn class, wherein a slide is used `tor obtaining' the variable notes.

The main objects ot this invention are to provide a horn ot the above character producing a fundamental note and having an improved forni ot slide attachment for varying the length of the vibrating column of air within the horn tor producing the different notes within the range of the instrument; and to provide improved means for support-ing the slide on the horn.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure l is a front elevation of a horn embodying this invention.

Fig. 2 is a view partly in plan and partly in side elevation and taken on the line 2 2 ot Figure l.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Fig. 4 is a detail in section, showing the means tor detachably connecting the slide and operating handle.

Fig. '5 is a section taken on the line 5 of Fig. 4.

In the torni shown, the present invention is applied to a tapered horn including the usual mouthpiece Jfor producing the fundamental note. The air column within the horn serves as a resonating medium for the sound produced by the mouthpiece, as is well understood in the art, and the pitch ot' the horn depends almost exclusively on the length of the air column set in vibration. Variable notes are obtained by varying the length of the vibrating column of air within the horn. For this purpose, the horn is provided with a series of lateral openings arranged to provide communication between the vibrating column of air within the horn and the ambient air. In horns having a uniform.. bore, the lateral openings should also be of uniform size, but in horns having a tapered bore, the lateral openings should be of progressively increasing size in proportion to th'e bore Serial No. 558,403.

of the horn at the openings, in order to avoid deepening or deadening the tone of the notes.

The 'successive opening and closing of the lateral openings, for obtaining any note within the range of the instrument, is controlled by means of a. slide which is arranged within a tubular casing mounted on the exterior of the instrument.

Referring to the drawings, the instrument comprises a tapered horn l having the usual mouthpiece 2 and flared end 3. Mounted on the neck of the horn adjacent the mouthpiece, is a pair ot octave keys 4 ot usual construction.

Formed in the front wall of the horn, is a series oi openings 5 arranged in a row extending longitudinally of the horn and progressively increasing in size in proportion to the tapered bore opposite the respective openings.

Rigidly .mountedy on the exterior of the horn adjacent the lateral openings 5, is a cylindrical casing 6, open at both ends and vhaving two rows ot oppositely disposed openings .7, which are arranged in register with, and of the same size as, the openings 5 of the horn. Communication through the openings 5 and 7 between the interior and exterior of the horn is controlled by a cylindricalrslide 8, which fits snugly within the casing 6, and which is longitudinally shiftable within said casing across the openings 't' by means ot an operating handle 9.

r[he operating handle 9 is in the torni of a U-shaped squared shaft having a cylindrical head 14 threaded on the upper end thereof and adapted to tit snugly within a bushing secured within the. cylindrical slide 8 adjacent its lower end. Mounted on the cylindrical head lll orn the operating handle, are diametrically opposed pins 10 for engagement with bayonet slots 11 formed in the bushing l5. The other end of the handle is bent to form a finger grip 12. The operating handle extends through guides in the form of lugs 13 mounted on the exterior of the horn and coacting with the squared shaft to secure the piston slide 8 against turning in the cylindrical casing 6. lhen the instrument is not in use, the slide 8 may be removed from the handle and the latter telescoped within the cylindrical casing 6, or it desired` the handle may be removed from the instrument. To remove the handle 9 from the instrument, the slide Although but onespecific--embodiinent of thisinvention has been herein shown and describe,d,zit will be understood that certain details 4of the construction shown may be altered or omitted `Without departing from the spirit of thisinvention as dei'ined bythe following claims.

l. A fmusical instrument of the class described coinprisinga hornadaptcdfor producing a fundamental note and having a series of lateral openings formed therein, a tubular casing arranged on the exterior of said horn and having a series of openings locatedadjacent said lateral openings, and a-slidemounted in said tubular casing and being longitudinally shiftable for successively opening yand closing communication through said. openings between the interior i and exterior-.fof thehorn.

2. Almusical instrument of the/class describedcomprising a horn adaptedrfor producing-a fundamental note and having a series' oflateral openings formed therein5I a ycylinder mounted on the exterior of said horn and having a series of openings registering With said lateral openings, a piston mounted in said cylinder and arranged for successively opening and closing communication --through said openings between the interior and exterior of the horn, and an operating handle detachably secured to one end of said piston.

3. Avmusical instrument of the class dei scribed comprisinga horn adapted for producing Ya fundamental `rnote `and having a series of lateral openings formed therein, a cylinder mounted on the exterior of said horn and having a series of openings registering with said lateral openings, a piston mounted in said cylinder and arranged for successively opening and closing communication through lsaid openings between the interior and exterior of the horn, an operating handle including a squaredshaft de tacliably secured to one end of said piston, and a guide mounted onsaid horn and coacting with said shaft for securing said piston against rotation relative to said cylinder.

4. A musical instrument of the cla-ss described comprising a horn including a mouthpiece and having a bore tapering from the inouthpiece, said horn having a series of lateral openings formed therein and arranged in a row extending longitudinally thereof, said openings progressively increasing in siZein proportion to the bore `of the horn'at said openings, a cylinder mounted on the exterior of the horn and having a series of Y openings registering With said lateral openings each of :the registering openings being of the saincsiaa'anda piston arranged in said cylinder vfor successively opening and closingcommunication through said ,openings between the interiorv and eX- terior of the horn.

5. A musical instrument of thefclass-de-l scribed comprising a horn adapted for producing a fundamental note and having a series of lateral openings formedtherein, a cylinder mounted on the lexterior of said horn and having a series of openings registering vith said lateral openings, a piston mounted in said cylinder and arranged for successively `opening and closing communieating through said openings between the interior and exterior ofthe horn, and an operating handle detachably secured to one end of said piston(` said horn and operating handle having-coact-ing shoulder-s for vsecur- Signed at Chicago-this l day'of May, 1922.

CAR-L REXFFEL ing said handle and piston against turning. 

